Worcester Morning Brief, Oct. 31: Historical panel denies mill demolition waiver

From Worcester News

• Arts council grant dispute over wrong-venue dance event Worcester's Arts Council examined a Latin dance program's final grant report after questioning whether the $5,000-funded event actually took place in Natick, outside Worcester, amid a roughly $1,200 catering invoice and nearly $7,000 in reported spending.Worcester News
• Advisory council recommends four city board nominees Worcester's Citizens Advisory Council took up four board nominations, including a Commission on Homelessness nominee who put the city's unsheltered single-adult population at close to 1,000, as members also began planning a succession once their chair's term limit forces a change.Worcester News
• Parks panel weighs Newton Hill tennis redesign, Bell Pond plan Worcester's Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed a revamped Newton Hill tennis complex design and a separate Bell Pond Beach renovation that parks staff say would require closing the beach for an entire summer once construction money is identified.Worcester News
• Historical panel weighs fate of Grove Street mill Worcester's Historical Commission considered a demolition delay waiver for the former Rainbow building at 112 Grove Street, part of the Washburn and Moen mill complex, after the owner said the vacant building had sat unleased for two years.Worcester News
• Parking board weighs Pearl Elm Garage lease deal Worcester's Off-Street Parking Board considered a 10-year lease for 50 spaces at Pearl Elm Garage to support a $14.3 million, 22-unit affordable condo project, as the agency reported a fiscal 2026 net loss of $123,383 and garage occupancy under 30 percent.Worcester News

Yesterday in Worcester (Fri, Oct 30)

• Abby Kelley soccer faces Montachusett RVT today Abby Kelley Foster's soccer team plays Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School on Oct. 30 in a Worcester matchup, according to MaxPreps.MaxPreps
• Worcester State gets $1.7 million graduation grant Worcester State University received part of $14 million in state funding meant to help Massachusetts university students complete their degree programs and graduate, Worcester Patch reported.Worcester Patch
• Quinsigamond college gets $1.9 million child care grant Quinsigamond Community College received a new federal grant to expand child care support for students who are also raising children, Worcester Patch reported.Worcester Patch
• Home sales and prices rise in Worcester Worcester's single-family housing market saw modest year-over-year gains in sales, prices and inventory in September, though figures slipped from August, Worcester Patch reported.Worcester Patch
• New restaurants, YMCA fit bar coming to Worcester Two new restaurants are opening on Lincoln Street while the YMCA plans a new fit bar offering in Worcester, according to Worcester Patch.Worcester Patch
• Police fund new sensory room at autism center The Worcester Police Department funded a new sensory room at an autism resource center using proceeds from its annual autism-awareness patch sales, Worcester Patch reported.Worcester Patch
• Worcester shopper wins $200,000 scratch ticket prize A $200,000 winning scratch ticket was purchased at a Worcester gas station this week, Worcester Patch reported, the latest big lottery win in the city.Worcester Patch
• Newborns celebrate first Halloween in costume Saint Vincent Hospital's newest arrivals marked their first Halloween dressed as a penguin, a ladybug, bees and a burrito, Worcester Patch reported.Worcester Patch

Coming up

• Sun, Nov 1, 10:00 a.m.: Art museum hosts free Diwali celebration The Worcester Art Museum offers a free Diwali Celebration day Sunday, Nov. 1, starting at 10 a.m., the museum said.Worcester Art Museum
• Sun, Nov 1: Sally Bishop Prize exhibit closes Sunday The Worcester Art Museum's 'Kara Patrowicz: The Sally Bishop Prize' exhibition closes Nov. 1, the museum said.Worcester Art Museum
• Mon, Nov 2: Fall jazz and wind ensemble concert set A Fall Jazz and Wind Ensemble Concert is scheduled for Nov. 2 in Worcester, according to the Worcester Patch events calendar.Worcester Patch
• Fri, Nov 6, 1:00 p.m.: City offers seminar on spotting scams Worcester hosts a 'Learn How to Spot a Scam' seminar Nov. 6 at 1 p.m., according to the city's event calendar.City of Worcester
• Sun, Nov 15, 12:30 p.m.: Artist talk with Christine E. Brown planned The Worcester Art Museum hosts an artist talk with Christine E. Brown on Nov. 15 at 12:30 p.m., the museum said.Worcester Art Museum
• Sun, Nov 15, 2:30 p.m.: Family artmaking workshop folds fortune tellers The Worcester Art Museum holds a family artmaking session on folding fortune tellers Nov. 15 at 2:30 p.m., the museum said.Worcester Art Museum

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Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.